Edward Ignatius Valigursky (October 16, 1926 in Arnold, Pennsylvania[1] – September 7, 2009 in Cape Coral, Florida)[2] was an American illustrator known for his portrayals of technology, and for his work in science fiction.
Valigursky joined the United States Navy in 1943[3] or 1945,[1] where he remained until 1946[3] or 1948.[1] After he left the service, he used his GI Bill benefits to attend the Art Institute of Chicago, and then transferred to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh.[2]
In 1952, he moved to New York City, where he worked for Ziff Davis as an art director.[1] There, he began illustrating that company's pulp magazines, including Amazing Stories and Fantastic Adventures.[1] In 1953, he began working for James L. Quinn's Quinn Publications,[4] where he provided illustrations for If.[5] He also provided over 100 cover images for Ace Books; however, this number is uncertain, because he did not always sign his work, and because in that era, Ace did not credit its cover artists.[4]
Subsequently, he left science fiction for general fiction and non-fiction magazines; The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction notes that this was because those publications paid more.[4]
Valigursky was a nominee for the 1956 Hugo Award for Best Professional Artist.[6]
The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction found Valigursky's work to be "perfectly suited for the space operas and futuristic melodramas [of Ace Books]" and praised his depictions of robots and "his characteristic needle-nosed spaceships", but faulted those of his images that "focus on human figures" as "less interesting", concluding that although "Valigursky cannot be regarded as a great sf artist, (...) his distinctive style will always be fondly associated with the simple pleasure of reading unambitious, unpretentious space adventures."[4]
In 1989, Popular Mechanics stated that he was "one of [America's] best-known illustrators of aircraft, ships, spacecraft, and other machines", and that his works were "on permanent display [at] the Pentagon [and] numerous naval and air force installations."[7]
